Alyssa Strobele has built a Little Free Library in her Spiritbrook neighborhood in Redmond at 15115 N.E. 67th Place.

In short, the Little Free Library is a variation of a “book exchange for the neighbors to use,” said Strobele, 17, who is a junior at Lake Washington High School. The library system is based on an honor code that trusts the users will take and return back the books. “It would be good if (my library) could bring neighbors together,” she added.

This particular Little Free Library houses approximately 30 books, mostly children’s books but several adults’ novels, as well. Elementary school-aged children are the intended users of her library, since Ben Rush Elementary School is located only a block away.

Strobele revealed that when she was younger, she personally did not enjoy reading because the “books were not really geared for children.” And with a library that is more accessible and closer compared to a public library, she hopes to encourage more children in her neighborhood to read.

The most rewarding memory is when “(my neighbor) sat on the curb to read to her three kids,” she said.

Strobele initially encountered the idea of a Little Free Library, a commodity in Seattle, as she was surfing the web. Since she had experience with woodworking and her father as a resource, Strobele decided to create one for her own neighborhood.

Once she had the idea for building a Little Free Library over the summer, Strobele finished the library structure over the course of five weekends and completed the final touches in August. Then, she collected old books from her own household and shopped at a fill-the-bag type book sale, specifically looking for children’s books. And finally, to spread the word about her library, she visited Ben Rush Elementary School in her neighborhood, while also posting fliers around her neighborhood.

“Feedbacks have all been positive (and) some of my neighbors came up and told me that they wanted to donate,” Strobele explained.

There are a few other Little Free Libraries in Redmond, including the one near Value Village, Horace Mann Elementary and Grass Lawn Park. Although her own Little Free Library is not registered online yet, www.littlefreelibrary.org provides a free map for those looking for the libraries in their own neighborhoods.

Rachel Lee is a senior at The Overlake School in Redmond.